Russia's Elizaveta Tuktamysheva performs in the ladies free skating during the World Team Trophy figure skating in Fukuoka . JIJI PRESS/AFP/JIJI PRESS
The 22-year-old, controversially omitted from last month’s world championships, produced a flawless performance in Fukuoka, nailing several soaring triple jumps, including a gorgeous triple lutz, triple toe-loop combo, to earn a personal best 153.89 points.
But the Americans finished top of the pile after Bradie Tennell took second spot on 150.3 points ahead of Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Rika Kihira.
The United States took gold on a total of 117 points with defending champions Japan taking silver on 104 points, just two clear than Russia.
European champion Sofia Samodurova finished the women’s free programme fourth with 16-year-old schoolgirl Kihira, who set a world record in the short skate, fifth after crashing to the ice attempting a triple toe-loop.
Double world champion Nathan Chen led an American one-two in the men’s free skate on Friday as the Americans underlined their recent dominance.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
